The ballroom was a sea of silk and secrets, but for Yuna, the air had suddenly turned thin.
Across the room, standing near the balcony, was a man who didn't fit the "Elite Academy" mold. He was older, scarred, and wearing a suit that cost more than a small house—but he wore it like armor.
Kaelen Vane. Her cousin. The man who had helped orchestrate the fall of her father's wing of the family.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Jaxon whispered, his hand tightening protectively on her waist. He had noticed the way her pulse jumped against his palm.
"Not a ghost," Yuna murmured, her eyes narrowing behind her mask. "A vulture."
Kaelen began walking toward them, his eyes locked onto Yuna. He didn't recognize her yet—not with the mask and the gown—but he recognized the aura. He recognized the way she stood, like a soldier on a battlefield.
"Mr. Thorne," Kaelen said, stopping in front of them. He completely ignored Yuna, treatng her like a decorative date. "I'm looking for someone. A little bird told me that 'ARES' might be hiding in this very room tonight."
The crowd gasped. The name ARES was legendary in the high-stakes world of corporate intelligence.
"ARES?" Jaxon played along, his voice smooth. "You think a world-class strategist is attending a high school gala? You're losing your touch, Vane."
"Am I?" Kaelen's eyes finally shifted to Yuna. He leaned in, sniffing the air. "Orange blossoms and burnt rubber. Strange scent for a lady, don't you think?"
Yuna felt Jaxon's muscles tense. He was ready to swing. She stepped forward, breaking the tension.
"It's the scent of someone who just outran a Serpent on the mountain pass, Mr. Vane," Yuna said, her voice a low, dangerous silk. "Perhaps you're just used to the scent of rotting carrion?"
Kaelen stiffened. That voice. It was too familiar. "Who are you?"
"I'm Jaxon's partner," Yuna said, looking Kaelen dead in the eye. "And I'm the person who just bought 15% of your company's shares while you were busy making this speech."
Kaelen's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his face turning pale as he read the notification. "What... how?!"
"Next time you come to a den of lions," Yuna whispered, "make sure you aren't a lamb."
The Cliffhanger
Kaelen reached out to rip the mask off her face in a fit of rage, but Jaxon caught his wrist, the sound of bone snapping echoing in the quiet ballroom.
"Touch her again," Jaxon growled, "and I won't just ruin your company. I'll make sure you never walk again."
[TO BE CONTINUED...]